Automatic controlling means for washing-machines.



G. WILSON.

AUTOMATIG GONTROLLING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1909. RENEWED JULY 27, 1911.

1,005,093. Patented 0013,1911

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AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED JULY27, 1909. RENEWED JULY 27. 1911.

1,0 O5,093, Patented Oct 3, 1911.

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all whom it may concern:

' STATES PATENT OFFICE."

GEORGE WILSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC'LAUNDRYAPPLIANCE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING MEANS FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

Application filed July 27, 1909, Serial No. 509,881. Renewed July 27,1911. Serial No. 640,955.

' "*Be it .knownthat I, Gnonon WILSON, of Boston,.in the county ofSuflolk' and'State of Massachusetts, have invented certain' newanduseful Improvements in Automatic Controlling Means for Washing-Machines,of which the followmg is a specification.

This invention relates to washing ma-- chinesof the type commonlyemployed by laundries for Washing clothes in large quantities. Manymachines of this type, hitherto used, have been without means formeasuring the quantities of washing, bluing, and rinsing fluids; andhave been without means for measuring the periods of operation of themachine, without means for notifying the attendant when a pre-determinedperiod of time has elapsed, without means for antomaticallydiscontinuing the operation of the machine, and without means forautomatically opening the discharge conduit through which the fluid inthe machine may ass. p When diflerent lots of articles are washed bymachinery, it is impossible to supply them with equal quantities ofwashing, bluing and rinsing fluids, and to time the washing,

bluing and rinsing operations accurately without employing automaticdevices for measuring the fluids and the periods of operation. Anattendant frequently has the supervision of several washing machines,and it is impossible for one to operate all so as to give all of thelots of articlesequal supplies of Washing, bluing or rinsingfluids, andequal periods of immersion therein. For example: the attendant may bedelayed for an unusually long period at one machine, as a result ofwhich the periods of time during which other machines are in operationmay be prolonged beyond the desired point. These inequalities in thesupply of the several fluids and in the periods of operation result indifi'erences in the appear ance of the several lots when finished. The

differences are especially objectionable when the articles of one ownerare divided in several lots, of which one lot is washed, blued andrinsed to a greater degree than the others.

This invention seeks to overcome these objections by providing automaticmeans for measuring predetermined quantities of the several fluids, formeasuring the periods of time for operating the machines, and for givinga signal, disconnecting the power, and or opening an outlet throughwhich. the fluid 1n. the machines may be discharged when a predeterminedperiod of operation has elapsed. The signal may be operated in anymanner desired, and may give warning by a visible index or by sound.

One advantage of providing automatic means for performing thesefunctions is that a uniform result is obtained whereby the articles mayall be treated alike.

Another advantage is that the" periods of operation are terminatedwithout any action on the part of the attendant and that the attendantis notified when each operation is finished, and is thereby enabled todischarge his duties accordingly.

Means for controlling the supply of fluid embraces two elements. It iscustomary with work of this'character to supply clear water, either hotor cold, to the machine through a supply pipe, and to supply a secondaryfluid, such as soap in liquid form, bluing, bleaching fluid or sour asthe case may be. The secondary fluid in each case is usually poured intothe machine without regard to the supply of water. Careless attendantssometimes pour in the secondary fluid before the full quantity of wateris sup plied, with the result that the articles in the machine receivethe secondary fluid in its concentrated form. Those articles which arethus touched by the secondary fluid are treated to a greater extent thanthose which receive the secondary fluid only after it has become dilutedby the water.

According to the present invention, ama-- chine is provided withseparate supply pipes, one for water, and the other for a' secondaryfluid. The supply pipe for the water may receive its supply from a watermain, a boiler or some other reservoir as desired. Automatic mechanismis provided for closing the water supply pipe after a predetermlnedfluid includes a small reservoir-closely associated with the machine andof such pro-.

portion as to contain a single charge. The.

supply pipe between the secondary reservoir and the machine is'initiallyclosed and is automatically opened only when the supply of water isclosed. By reason of con: trolling the supplies of water and secondaryfluid in this order, all danger of subjecting quantity has beensupplied. The means for supplying the secondary the articles to thesecondary fluid in its concentrated form is avoided. The means forautomatically disconnecting the power and for opening the discharge pipeof the machine is controlled by timing mechanism which may also I.control 'signaling means. The timing mechanism in turn is controlled bythe means which automatically closes the water-supply pipe, wherebytheperiod of operation begins not when water 15 first supplied to themachine, but when the supply is discontinued and the secondary fluld isadmitted.

' Qf the accompanying drawings, which vertical section of a valve forone of the v represents a section on line 4-4 of branches of thewater-supply pipe. I.lfig. 4:

1g. 1. Fig. 5represents an elevation of a portion of one form of timingmechanism. Fig. 6 represents a vertical section of a discharge valve forcontrolling the discharge from the machine. Fig. 7 represents a sectionon line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever theyoccur.

Fig. 1 illustrates in a general way a cylindrical washing machine ofusual construction. It is customary to provide machines for this purposewith an outer shell or casing 10, and with a container 11,rotatablymounted within the casing, for containing the articles to bewashed, blued, rinsed or bleached. The container is usually formed withapertures 12 or other open ings through which fluid may pass from thecasing. The ends of the container are usually provided with trunnions 13which are mounted in bearings in the ends of the casing 10 and of whichone is driven for the purpose of revolving the container first in onedirection and then in the other so as to agitate the articles in thefluid.

14 indicates a supply pipe'eonnected to the casing for supplyin waterthereto. The

.supply pipe may inc ude a plurality of branches 14', one for a coldwater and one for hot water. A third branch (not shown) is sometimesprovided for supplying steam. Each of the branches 14 is provided with avalve 15, said valves being independently operative. A valve appropriatefor the purpose is illustrated in detail by Fig. 3, in which 15represents avalve casing and in which 16 represents agate adapted toopen and close the flow passage. In this form of valve, the gateis'attached to the free end of a lever 17 aflixed upon one end of avalve stem' 18. The valve stem extends through the casing and has ahandle 19 aflixed upon its outer end. The handle here shown is in theform of a lever. The valves of the several branches are preferablyarranged in one and the same plane as shown by Fig. 1, so that they canbe operated in unison by automatic means for closing them. The meanshere shown for closing the valves includes the sliding bar 20, mountedin bearings 21, and provided with pins or projections 22 adapted toengage the {handles 19. Aspring 23 is connected to the bar 20 in such away as to move the bar to the left and thereby close the valves. It isobvious that the pins 22 are adapted to close only the valves which maybe open. The

bar 20 is provided with a shoulder 24 which is adapted to engage andcooperate with a latch 25 by which the bar may be held in retractedposition. The latch-has the form of a lever and is connected to a floatby which it may be raised to release he bar. The latch or lever'ispivoted at 26 'and its free end is connected to the upper end of atwo-part telescopic rod including the outer sleeve 27 and the innermember28. The lower end of the member carries' a float 29 whichisadapted to rise and fall in a float chamber 30. The chamber isconnected by a pipe-31 with the supply pipe 14 whereby the supply ofwater may rise in the chamber to the same level as in the casing 10 Thepipe 31 might be connected-directly to the easing with the same effect.The upper end of the rod 28 is provided with a pin 32 which is arrangedto slide in a slot 33 formed in the sleeve 27. Notches 34, 35 and 36 areformed in the sleeveso as to join the slot 33. The pin 32 may-be placedin any of the notches, and in this way the length of the two-partconnecting rod may be varied so as to support the float at difii'erentheights. The float rod is supported by the lever 25 and the lever is inturn supported by the sliding bar 20. When the supply of fluid risessutficiently to give buoyancy to the float, the lever 25 is raised andthe bar 20, if previously held in retracted position, is released sothat it may close such valves as may be open. In this way, the supply ofwater is automatically controlled.

40 indicates a reservoir provided for the purpose of containing a chargeof secondary fluid. The reservoir is connected to the easing 10 by apipe 41 and it is arranged above the maximum level of the fluid in thecasing 10, so that its contents may flow by ravity into the casing. Avalve 12 is provided for closing the outlet of the reservoir 40, saidvalve being provided with a stem 43 by which it may be opened. The meanshere shown for automatically opening the valve 42 comprises a bell crank44 pivoted at 45 and arranged to be engaged by a finger 46 projectingfrom the sliding bar 20. The arrangement of the bell crank and thefinger 46 with relation to the pins 22 is such that the valve 42 isopened when the bar 20 is moved to close the valves 15. It will be observed that the entire contents of the reser voir 40 may be dischargedwhen the valves 15 are closed.

As hereinbefore stated, it is usual to provide power-transmittingmechanism for rotating the container 11 first in one direction and thenin the other direction. This method of operating the container may bedisregarded for the purpose of explaining the present invention,inasmuch as it has no particular bearing. For this reason, the drawingsinclude only so much of the powertransmitting mechanism as isrequired toshow that the container may be rotated. The form of power-transmittingmechanism commonly used includes a prime power shaft 50, provided with atight pulley 51, and loose pulleys 52 one on either side of the tightpulley. A pair of belts 53 and 54 is provided for driving the tightpulley in either one direction or the other. Some form of beltshiftingmechanism is usually provided for causing first one belt and then theother to engage the tight pulley, but the mechanism for this purpose isintentionally omitted for the sake of clearer illustration. The powershaft 50 may be provided with a gear 55 internieshing with a gear 56loosely mounted upon one of the trunnions 13 of the container. The hubof the gear 56 is here shown as one part of a driving clutch of'whichthe other part is a sleeve 57 splined upon the trunnion so as to bemovable toward and from the hub and to transmit rotation to thetrunnion. In this way, power is transmitted from the shaft 50 to thecontainer. The belts 53 and 54 are presumably driven continuously andpower may be connected with or disconnected from the container by movingthe sleeve 57 toward or from the hub of the gear 56. Automatic means isprovided whereby the power of the continuously rotating gear 56 may beemployed for disconnecting the clutch and for opening a valve 58 forcontrolling a discharge pipe 59 at the bottom of the casing 10. Thesleeve 57 is formed with a groove 57 adapted to receive a yoke 60 formedat one end of a lever 61. The lever is pivoted at 62 in a bracket 63affixed to one end of the casing 10. The other end of the lever 61 isconnected by a rod 64 to one end of a bell crank 65 pivoted at 66 in thebracket 63. The other arm of the bell crank 65 carries a lever 67pivoted at 68. As shown by Fig. 7, the lever is adapted to swing betweenguides 6: affixed to the bracket 63. One end of the lever 67 carries awheel or roll 70 which is adapted to coiiperate with a cam or projection71 formed on or otherwise attached to the gear 56. The other end of thelever 67 coiiperates with means whereby the wheel 70 may be moved to andfrom the path of the cam 71. \Vhen the wheel lies in the path of thecam, it is adapted to be displaced so as to move the lever 67 and swingthe bell crank 65 about its pivot. In this way, the clutch lever 61 maybe actuated to retract the sleeve 57 so as to disconnect the gear 56from the trunnion. The bell crank 65 is also connected to one end of a.rod 72 of which the other end is pivotally connected to an arm 73attached to the valve 58. As shown by Fig. 6, the valve is adapted to beopened by swinging the arm 73 about its axis. In this way the dischargepipe 59 may be opened simultaneously when disconnecting thepower-transmitting mechanism, and the power for actuating the valve, andthe clutch sleeve is supplied by the power-transmitting mechanism. Theapplication of the power is, however, controlled by automatic meanswhich in this form of the invention is operated by an electro-magnet 74.

The lever 67 is embraced by two pins 75 affixed to the core or armature76 of the electro-magnet .74., which, as here shown, is of the solenoidtype. The outer end of the core is arranged to slide in a bearing 77.The electrical circuit for operating the electro-magnet includes asource of current 78, a signal 79, timing mechanism 80, the electro-magnet 74, and a switch 81. The timing mechanism is here shown as aclock movement and includes a time switch of which is a stationarycontact and 83 a movable contact adapted to cooperate therewith. Thestationary contact 82 is insulated from the timing mechanism which isinserted between the conductors S4 and 85, by which the source ofcurrent, the signal, the switch 81, and the electro-magnet 74 areincluded in series. The movable contact 83 serves two other purposes. Itis aflixed to the central arbor 86 of the timing mechanism and istherefore adapted to serve as a handle for winding a spring 87 by whichthe train of gears of the timing mechanism may be driven. In addition toserving as a handle for winding the spring, the movable contact isadapted to cooperate with a dial 88 with which the timing mechanism isprovided. The escapement for the timing mechanism is indicated as awhole in Fig. 5 at 89. 90 indicates a stop pin affixed to an arm 91 andadapted to engage the escapement 89 and render it inoperative. The stoparm 91 is pivoted at 92 and is engaged by a spring 93 which tends tohold the stop in operative position in engagement with the escapement.The free end of the arm 91 is arranged to be engaged by a projection onthe sliding bar 20. According to &

In preparing the machine for an operation,

itis necessary to close the. discharge valve 58 and to close thesecondary valve 49.. After the articles have been placed in thecontalner 11, and the casing, which is provided with a.

door (not shown), is closed, the bar 20 may be retracted until theshoulder 2i is engaged and held-by the latch 25. The discharge valve 58may be closed and the powertransmitting mechanism may at the. same timebe connected by manually moving the lever 61 so as to place the sleeve57 in cooperative engagement with the gear 56. The casing 10 is 110wready to receive. the desired fluid which may be either for a washing,bluing, rinsing or bleaching operation. Either or both of the valves 15may then be manually opened and the float may be adjusted to the desiredheight by placing the pin 32 in the appropriate notch in the sleeve 27.For a washing operation, the pin is usually placed in the lowest notch;for a bluing operation it is usually placed in the next notch; and for arinsing operation it is placed. in the highestnotch. The placing of thepin determines the level to which the supply of fluid may rise beforereleasing the bar 20. The reservoir 46, which is now closed by itsvalve42, may receive a charge of concentrated washing, bluing, bleachingor other secondary fluid to be admitted to the casing after thepredetermined quantity of 'ater has been supplied. Having provided thesecondary fluid, the attendant may move the handle 83' in a clockwisedirection to a point on the ,dial corresponding to the length of timedesired for the operation. The central arbor, to which the handle isaflixed, carries a ratchet wheel 9% which cooperates with a pawl 95 onthe master gear of the timing mechanism. The timing mechanism atthistime is rendered inoperative by the action of the stop 90 and the handle83 is therefore held stationary so long as the escapement 89 is engagedby the stop. After having placed the handle at the desired point, theattendant may close the switch 81 and leave the machine to be thereaftercontrolled by the sev eral automatic devices hereinbefore. described.\Vhen the supply of water reaches the desired height, the float islifted and the bar 20 is released, whereupon the open branch or branchesof the supply pipell are closed. The finger -16 on the bar 20 engagesthe bell crank 44 and the stop arm 91, thereby opening the supply pipefor the secondary fluid and thereby releasing the timing mechanism. Thesecondary fluid continues to flow intothe casing until the reservoir 40is entirely discharged, and the timing mechanism thereupon drives theescapement and moves the contact. 83 in a counter-clockwise directionuntil it engages the stationary contact 82. Upon engaging the stationarycontact, the circuit is closed through the timing mechanism, therebycompleting the electrical circuit by which the signal 79 and theelectro-magnet 74 are operated. The electromagnet swings the lever (37so as to place the wheel in the path of the cam 71, and upon engagementof the wheel by the cam, the lever (37 is displaced thereby swinging thebell crank (35 to open the discharge valve and disconnect the clutch ashereinbet'ore described: The container 11 thereupon comes to a state ofrest and the contents of the easing 10 is permitted to flow out throughthe discharge pipe 59. The operation is thus completed after the lapseof a predetermined period of time, and the attendant may subsequentlyremove the articles from the container whenever it is convenient.Another advantage of the movable contact 83 cooperating with the dial 88is that the attendant, in passing to and fro from one machine toanother, may observe the progress of the several machines and is therebyenabled to gage his several duties so that they may be performed in themost expeditious order. For a rinsing operation, it is obvious that nosecondary fluid is required, and it is therefore immaterial whether thevalve 42 be open or closed, provided no secondary fluid is contained inthe reservoir 40.

It is proposed to provide timing mechanism of such proportions that thecentral arbor 86 shall be revolved at the rate of one revolution perhour, and to provide the ratchet 9+ with twelve equi-distant teeth. Eachtooth would therefore represent five minutes, and the pawl 95 would beadapted to hold the handle 83 at any position representing a multiple offive. If the handle should be moved past the desired point, it wouldreturn ,to that point unless it be moved so far as to include the nexthigher multiple of five. Inequalities in timing successive operationsmay thus be avoided.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention, and described away of constructing and using the same, although without attempting toset forth. all of the forms in which itmay be made or all of the modesof its use, what- I claim is:

1. The combination with a washing machine, of means for supplying fluidthereto, power-transmitting means, and means actuated by the fluid fordisconnecting the power-transmitting means.

2. The combination with a washing machine, of means for supplying fluidthereto, discharging means, powertransmitting means, and means actuatedby the fluid for operating the discharging means and disconnecting thepower-transmitting means.

3. The combination with a Washing machine, of power-transmitting meansincluding a continuously rotating member and a disconnectible member, adischarge valve, means including a retractable member adapted to beactuated by said continuously rotating member for opening the dischargevalve and retracting said disconnectible member, and automatic means formoving said retractable member to operative position.

4. The combination with a fluid container of means for supplying fluidthereto, discharging means for the container, and automatic meansactuated by the fluid for stopping the supply and for operating thedischarging means.- ,7

5. The combination with a fluid container of means for supplying aprimary fluid thereto, stationary means for supplying a secondary fluidthereto, and automatic means for closing the primary supply means andopening the secondary supply means.

6. The .combination with a fluid container of meansfor supplying aprimary fluid thereto, means for supplying a secondary fluid thereto,and automatic means actuated by the primary fluid for closing theprimary supply means and opening the secondary supply means.

7. The combination with a fluid container of means for supplying aprimary fluid thereto, means for supplying asecondary fluid thereto,discharging means for the container, and automatic means actuated by theprimary fluid for closing the primary supply means and opening thesecondary supply means, and for opemng the discharging means after theclosing of the primary supply means.

8. A laundry apparatus, comprising a washing machine, means forsupplying the fluid thereto, power-transmitting means for operating themachine, and automatic means for stopping the supply and fordisconnecting said power-transmitting means.

9. A laundry apparatus, comprising a washing machine, means forsupplying fluid thereto, discharging means for the machine,power-transmitting means for operating the machine, and automatic meansfor stopping the supply and for operating said discharging means anddisconnecting said power transmitting means.

10. A laundry apparatus, comprising a washing machine, means forsupplying fluid thereto, discharging means for the machine,power-tran'smitting means for operating the machine, a signal, andautomatic means for stopping the supply and for operating the signal anddischarging means, and disconnecting the power-transmitting means.

11. A laundry apparatus, comprising a washing machine, means forsupplying a primary fluid to the machine, means for supplying asecondary fluid to the machine, discharging means for the machine, andautomatic means for closing the primary supply means and opening thesecondary supply means, and for opening the discharging means.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

' GEORGE WILSON.

Witnesses:

W. P. ABELL, P. PEzzn'raI.

